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I'm after some advice on dealing with plantar Fasciitis as my 10 year old son has this I've been to my GP who basically said that's what he's got and there is no fix for it. Has anyone got any tips on treatments that worked or is physio an option or is it down to plain old rest it's worst first thing in the morning. Any advice greatly received thanks

Just wondered if anybody had been referred to or seen Doctors at the Institute of Sports Exercise & Health for Dance injuries? It is in connection with UCLH. Any experiences or opinions would be much appreciated.

Hello, I haven't posted here for a while but was hoping for some advice. My 16 year old dd has recently broken her ankle. She's been in a boot and walking with crutches for the past 4 weeks, they've said around 6 weeks for it to mend. She doesn't dance as much as her sisters but was hoping to start a modern class just before the injury. At her check up today, the doctor said it could take up to 3 months to heal completely and sometimes even longer. She's going to start physio in a few weeks to help with the movement. She's keen to get back to dance as soon as possible but I imagine it's risky going back too soon? Has anyone experienced this type of injury and is there anything she can do to help the healing process? Thank you.

My daughter (15) fractured her ankle over the summer, and we finally have clarity on the precise nature of the injury (8 weeks later). It is good news: two fractures, one with a flake of bone coming off which really confused them, and a fracture across one part of the joint, but no ligament damage, the main fracture is stable and it should all be healing nicely. She can now put weight on her foot, and her main complaint is lack of flexibility in the joint, which makes it hard to walk properly and is apparently just due to the swelling in the joint, and that is hurts if she uses it too much. SO getting there. She has had a lot of time off dance recently - a very limited timetable last year, due to a back problem (diagnosed as Bertolotti Syndrome exacerbated by Pole Vaulting (a girl has to have a hobby, apparently. She tells me dancing isn't a hobby, it is a life)), gradually built back up to about 14 hours a week and then hurt her Achilles tendon. Was staging another return when she landed a leap badly and, opps, ankle... So, anyway. I think we need to be really careful about how she restarts dancing and how we help her to build up her strength and technique so that she isn't constantly hurting herself. Her current timetable (if she were dancing it) involves 2 pointe classes, 3 Inter ballet and 2 Adv 1 ballet, 1 Grade 6 ballet (and she is assistant teacher in a Grade 1 class) as well as Jazz, Modern, Acro, Hip Hop, Tap and a conditioning class. Her teacher is super helpful, and is currently giving her a private Pilates session every week (free!), and I will be discussing with her how we manage E's return, as well as chatting to her (non-dance specialist) physio, but I wondered if anyone had any ideas about how to help a very keen dancer rebuild their strength and endurance whilst not taking part in their full timetable of classes. My initial thoughts were for her to initially just do something like demonstrating G1 and dancing G6 and taking up swimming (alongside the Pilates, obviously).... But I wonder if it would be better for her to do more ballet classes, but only to do the barre work to start with and build up from there. Sorry this has been long. I have spent the day trying to find sources of online advice or someone who can help her develop a personalised rehabilitation timetable type thing, but with no luck. I hoped someone here might have some experience, or insight to offer. Or even to know someone I could ask (we live in Wales).

My injury has been a long time in the making, starting in October of last year (2018) and if anything, it's only gotten progressively worse since then. Essentially, I started to develop a lot of pain between my third and fourth toe both on top of my left foot and on the bottom of my foot. This led to swelling, ankle pain, decreased mobility and absolutely no bruising. It still hurts quite bad, especially when I'm dancing, but even when I'm resting. To put the majority of the history into a short few sentences, here's what has happened: - I've seen two walk-in doctors, two family doctors, a physiotherapist, a kinesiologist, a podiatrist, a chiropractor, a sports medicine doctor and a sports physiotherapist. - I use Kttape, Rub A535, heat before dance, ice after and Aleve religiously. - I have tried an ankle brace, wearing sneakers in ALL my classes, metatarsal gel pads, a 3 week break and essential oils. - My physiotherapy has included massage, ultrasounds, electrical muscle stimulation, laser therapy, cupping, acupuncture and amino neuro frequency discs. - I have gotten both an X-ray and a bone scan and will be getting an MRI shortly. - It was originally thought to be extensor tendinitis, then a stress fracture and now I seem to have everyone stumped. This year of dance is extremely important to me and I'm really worried about my foot. I'm basically just looking for similar stories, ideas on what it could be or how to deal with the pain. Could it be possible that a stress fracture was missed on both the x-ray and the bone scan?

Hello. My DD (13) who is a full time ballet student, is facing a bone marrow edema (a step before stress fracture) for the second time in 2 years' time. The injury is on the most common part, the 2nd metatars of the foot. She has not gone through puberty, and she is growing fast. She has a thin body and her bones are definitely more thinner compared to her peers. She definitely has a very good diet, does not lack calcium. Only D vitamin is low. And we are supporting this. We have seen doctors, gone through physiotherapy last time after the treatment weeks (off from ballet) but we are keen to understand why this happens this often to her. She has recently achieved an audition abroad, she is an aspiring student but these pull-backs affect her emotions and her performance as well. Any similar experiences, how you have gone through this, and any specific reasons why some face it more than others? Thank you

Hi everyone, I wonder if anyone can help please. My daughter has injured her groin and needs to see a specialist dance physio. We would normally see the brilliant physio team at Tring Park where she is a CBA student. However they have broken up for the summer. Does anyone have any personal recommendations for us please. We live in Hertfordshire but London or anywhere within a hours travel would be ok. Thanks so much.

Hiya just wondering if anyone has any experience of severe shin splints (Ive had it for about 6 months now) or compartment syndrome? I’m seeing a vascular surgeon on Monday which I think is for compartment syndrome investigation. Also if anyone has any tips for coping with injury because I literally can’t cope with sitting out of dance for more than one day at a time it drives me mad! I’ve been injured pretty much since the start of my college course which is super frustrating obviously and I’m soooo fed up but also concerned that the course is slipping away from me and I’m running out of time, especially if I need surgery. I’m 20 so I feel like I should be nearing the end of my training and starting my career but couldn’t be further from it.

I have thought long and hard about writing about this topic, but I feel it is so necessary to voice my concerns about the above subject. There are so many young and gifted dancers that are being totally ruined by obsessive and excessive dance training resulting in such severe injuries. Parents quite often are scared of voicing their concern for fear of retribution. I have heard of cases where children as young as 8-10 years old are being expected to train on a weekly basis for in excess of 30 hours a week and during a week of holidays a staggering 70 hours, how is this safe? young bodies need rest and recoup time.

At the end of term, dd tripped on the stairs at school and injured her ankle. It was strapped up well and she was on crutches for a few days. The pain reduced but it was still very bruised and swollen. Now she's home for Easter and I want to make sure it's healed properly before she starts dancing again next term. The school nurse thought it was probably sprained but could have been a torn ligament. It does seem improved but there is still some swelling/bruising. I did think about taking her to my excellent osteopath to get it checked but would a sports physio be better? Any advice please?

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For the last few days or so, I have been feeling really not-myself. To start with, I have a really horrible cold which keeps me up at night by the box of tissues, and cannot speak at all. Ever since I have caught it, everything at all physical I do (even walking up the street!) results in me breaking out into a nasty hot sheen of sweat... And I don't usually sweat at all (unless in ballet class!) I suppose the extremes of 27 degree sunshine at sports day to the flash floods and Terrential freezing rain this week haven't helped. Anyway, it doesn't seem to get better I usually do about 2.5 hours of ballet practice at home on days I don't do class, but also recently my big right toe has become throbbing with pain(from the ball of the foot to the nail)... It started excruciating but on,y when flexed, but not it is a dull ache constantly. I have festivals this weekend and really wanted to get loads of hard practice done, but I have started to lose my concentration and just stand there in another world. I'm also scared because at pointe class yesterday my ankles felt exceedingly wobbly... Maybe that is just my pointe shoes dying though... They are very old.. there has also been lots of not very nice drama at school and home... And I just feel like I want to go unconscious for the rest of eternity! What should I do? I have summer school very soon (end of July to mid August) and want to be top of my game for that, so I wanted to keep up a hard regime of daily practice over the first week, especially as I have the festivals. I've worked very hard on my technique and I just want everything to be perfect! sorry for the ultra long post, thank you in advance, ArucariaBallerina P.S I am still adoring ballet, sometimes I'm scared by how much I love it... Family were looking at me very strangely as I started crying while sat in the splits wat hing the final R+J pas de deux.... And in English when I cried listening to the music from the Nutcracker where the Prince does his mime about the Mouse King and Clara's ballet shoe rescue...

Morning everyone I've been struggling a bit with 'fear' in the studio at the moment and I was wondering if anyone else has had the experience where, you know you can do it but you're so scared you keep psyching yourself out? And if yes, how you overcame it/are overcoming it. I'll go first. Yesterday in class we were trying releve passe en pointe and while I could do it decently enough on my right foot, my left foot was a total mess. I've had a history of serious ankle problems on that side, including a dislocation several years ago. Last year I fell (in the middle of my exam and directly in front of the examiner ) and sprained it pretty badly (hello moonboot), then did the rest of the exam on a sprained ankle like an idiot. Even though it's been 6 months, I'm still in physio recovering from it. Everything I do with that leg now my brain is trying to protect me from injuring it again. I feel like I go in with a positive attitude but my brain is so terrified it completely stops me from being able to do the move. It doesn't seem like a conscious fear, it's like I'm telling my body to do one thing and a traitorous part of my brain is sending completely opposite signals. I'm worried because if anything, this is more likely to injure me more, if I'm sort of half doing it or doing it incorrectly. Mostly just looking for other stories of people (or their dance kids) who have felt this total mind block after coming back from an injury. Any stories of how you got over it would also be very welcome

http://www.4dancers.org/2013/03/dancing-through-the-adolescent-growth-spurt/#.WLOWLZBGGLw.facebook

DD injured herself two weeks ago - sun 15th (just messing around in her room - apparently she felt pain when she did a developpe). Initially the pain was in the groin area and not too severe she had WL the following Wednesday so rested until the audition. Pain no better so saw physio on 24th - he did ultrasound and massaged thigh also leant us a Heat lamp to use. He said she should dance but restrict herself to only controlled movements and gentle stretches. DD has just mentioned that whilst the pain in thigh/groin is starting to feel better she now has pain in buttocks. I will get another physio appointment but just thought I would ask for advice on here. She has The Hammond audition coming up next Sunday and should really be working on festival dances but I am worried she will make things worse if I let her dance.

I came across this presentation by Professor Mathew Wyon (who is consultant for BRB and ENB) and thought it worth posting. His work is revolutionary and will hopefully lead to a change of thinking amongst vocational schools and ballet companies in the future. It's £4.00 to stream I'm afraid, but hugely insightful for anyone with a DC. https://vuier.com/v/afap-2016-prof-matthew-wyon-26-mins

Hello - any physios out there? Daughter does have an appointment to see someone tomorrow but they're not dance trained - couldn't get anyone locally at short notice (daughter home from vocational school for Easter hols). Anyway she was doing class (brilliant local teacher) yesterday and all went well except at the very end, doing jumps (not big jumps but the ones on the spot where you bounce up and down - she told me the name of that movement but I've forgotten it). DD had to stop in pain - very sore down side of left lower leg. Teacher said DD not landing properly - and DD agrees and says she has developed a bad habit for a while now, where she doesn't bring her heels right down when she lands. Does that make sense? Basically I am searching for reassurance that rest and ice are the best treatments for now, and please someone tell me it's not a serious dance threatening condition!! A little googling about anatomy tells me it could be the peroneal tendon - but don't take my word for that. You can probably tell that I am not the best informed of parents - I have no dance background and DD is the first ever dancer or performer of any kind in our family. Can anybody please offer any words of advice - in particular, does anyone recognise this condition? Thank you so much if you've managed to read all of this!

Just over two weeks ago my dd was dancing when she got a severe pain in the top of her foot. She went to the local hospital as they thought it might be a stress fracture but the X rays didn't show any fracture but it did show that she had some thickening of the bone on her 2nd metatarsal so they told her to re think her career, which she obviously found upsetting to hear. We did some research and decided it probably was a stress fracture so she's been resting but has kept on with gentle exercise. However last night she phoned me in tears as foot feeling more painful, a bruise was coming out on the top of her foot and it was also painful on the ball of her foot. I advised she went back to the hospital as I was concerned and being so far away couldn't offer any other advice. She ended up going in an ambulance as she passed out while talking to NHS direct! However the advice from hospital is now that because the bone is thickened it's pressing on the tendons/tissues and surrounding muscles. They said it will be painful for a few weeks but once the inflammation goes down it should be fine and she doesn't have to re think career. The doctor said rest but told her she can still dance, which seems to be conflicting advice, so just wondering if anyone can offer suggestions on what she should be doing. She has made an appointment to see a physio but that isn't till the end of October.

Should DD have had new ponte shoes fitted while she has a swollen ankle from a torn Achilles? I know I'm being daft - but I just don't know if it's OK or not (I wouldn't buy new shoes while I had a swollen ankle) Never mind the stress of a bill for pointe (which I wasn't expecting) tap & latin shoes!!

In my most recent dance class, 2 days ago, I was doing a hardcore pointe lesson. Whilst doing it I felt minimal pain, and didn't find it too difficult compared to usual. Yesterday, I woke up with a sort of tight, pulling pain from my mid inner calf, up to my knee which is still there today. I am finding it painful to walk and straighten my leg. As I have not experienced this before I was wondering whether anyone else had, and whether its anything to worry about??

Just wondering if anyone can give me any info and advice on Tendonitis as dd had to go to minor injuries yesterday with pain on the back of her foot and we were told she had tendonitis and to rest it for 7 days, but that was as far as it went on the advice!! So I'm now off to google it but thought I'd ask on the forum to see if others have suffered and had any advice to offer, thank you ????

My eldest dd had some devastating news yesterday which has resulted in her having to hang up her pointe shoes. She's 15. Dancing has only ever been an important hobby and pointe was never her favourite but this news has come as a bit of a shock. I was just wondering if anyone has any information/experience of dancing with a fractured calcaneum. Last year she had an accident at school. She had all the relevant xrays but nothing broken showed up. Anyway she has just had an mri scan as the injury is still causing issues and we were informed that this heel bone is fractured and the joint is irreparable. We were advised that if she continues to dance as much as she does then her foot could be arthritic in the next 5-10 years. She is going to have an operation to remove the loose bone soon however this makes no difference to the possible arthritis. Our first reaction is to stop Pointe, modern, anything where she has no support on her feet and let her do other dance styles where she can wear supporting shoes. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Since her MRI scan the consultant has ignored the misaligned healed broken bone and concentrated on a believed Morton's neuroma which has been treated with a steroid injection. DD returned to see consultant today (saw different person) who as the pain has not gone away has not given another injection which dd was hoping for so she could at least finish the year dancing. Surgery seems to be the option. She graduates in three weeks. So we are now going to have to wait whilst she re-registers back here and then wait for the NHS to schedule surgery. She will be retired before she gets a chance to dance. Rant over

Currently I dance in ballet flats and I am doing well but this part of my foot is constantly hurting. Especially doing certain moves and jumps in class. I won't be having class for a month now due to my teacher having surgery but I would like to know why this part of my foot hurts so much on this side but my other side is perfectly fine. I am trying to add a picture

Hi my dd has hurt her foot and I'm wondering if any one has had a similar problem. The pain just came on all of a sudden when doing pointing exercises with her foot , she didn't fall or anything. She can walk and put weight on her foot but the pain is across the top of her foot and only when she points her foot. This is not helpful for ballet! Slight bruising has just started to appear 2 weeks after the injury. We have been the doctors who said its not broke as she wouldn't be able to walk and to just rest it. She has been off it for two weeks now and no better still hurting to point her foot. We are going to go back to doctors next week as I'm not happy think she needs an xray ? She never misses dance or complains and we are worried as she is due to start dance college in September. This is her first ever injury . I am just after any advise as I'm sending myself mad with worry ! As I say we are seeking medical advice next week, just wanted to know if this is a common problem?? X